LINCOLN — It would be hard to pick a bigger moment in this Arizona football season than the one Dec. 5 where Nick Foles threw a 36-yard touchdown pass with 3:14 left to beat Southern Cal.

That would also be one of the plays coach Mike Stoops would pick to prove a point about his sophomore quarterback.

Did Foles just give the Wildcats their first win over USC since 2001 or throw a first-quarter completion against Washington State? It was hard to tell the difference.

“After he threw it, you didn't see him jump high or shake a fist or point a finger toward USC,'' Stoops said. “He just walked to the sideline. Like, ‘That's what I do.'”

Reserved. Under control. Always in charge.

A lot like Sam Bradford, according to Stoops, comparing the traits of Foles to the Oklahoma quarterback who won the 2008 Heisman Trophy under the watch of his brother, Sooners coach Bob Stoops.

“Nick is a very talented player in a lot of different ways,'' Mike Stoops said. “His ability to let the good and bad go instantly says a lot about a player. He's a guy who never gets too high or too low. He just plays the next play whether it's good or bad.

“He doesn't ride that roller-coaster because I think he understands that big picture, that there's more work to be done all the time.''

Foles next takes that approach into the Holiday Bowl, where Arizona (8-4) will play Nebraska (9-4) on Dec. 30. It will be just his 10th career start and come against a Husker defense that brought Heisman finalist Colt McCoy and the Texas offense to its knees in the Big 12 championship game.

“I still have so much to improve on,'' Foles said. “I can't even tell you.''

Foles already has a story before he gets to this part about improving.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder is from Austin, Texas, and inevitably grew up a Longhorns fan. At Westlake High, he broke school records for passing yards (5,658) and touchdowns (56) previously held by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Allowed to leave Big 12 country, Foles started his career at Michigan State in 2007 and played one game.

After transferring to Arizona and sitting a year, Foles started this season behind sophomore Matt Scott before winning the job in late September. His evolution included wins over Oregon State and Stanford before helping the Wildcats take down USC in the L.A. Coliseum.

“I think I've just grown as a quarterback,'' Foles said. “Every game you grow, you gain confidence, and you just become more relaxed. When you can relax and go out there and play football like you've done ever since you're a kid, I think that's when you play at your highest level.''

Foles has put together a season in which he is completing 66 percent of his passes for 2,420 yards, with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Foles completed 22 of 40 passes for 239 yards and two TDs against USC, and ran for another score. The 10-play, 80-yard winning drive included the Wildcats converting three third-down plays before Foles capped it with the 36-yard throw to Juron Criner.

“That was a childhood dream of mine to go into SC and play them and do what we did,'' Foles said. “So I was very fortunate. It still don't seem real.''

How did Foles celebrate? He had dinner with his roommate and girlfriend, then went home to relax. With his dog.

If it sounds simple, well, that's just who he is. Foles just goes along and takes care of his business. Stoops said he probably hasn't said more than 20 words to him in a game all season.

For all the Wildcats have been through, Stoops said Foles has been a rock.

“He was right in the middle of it all and he never wavered and flinched through it all,'' Stoops said. “He's a very strong person. He's a great thrower of the football, more mobile than people think and just a great feel for what we're doing right now. I think he's got a pretty unlimited ceiling as a player.''

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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